The tertiary structure of proteins can be destroyed by

Options

A. High energy radiations
B. High temperature
C. Drastic changes in pH
D. All of these

Answer

To answer the question regarding what can destroy the tertiary structure of proteins, we can follow these steps:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understanding Protein Structure**:
- Proteins have four levels of structure: primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary. The tertiary structure is the three-dimensional shape of a protein, which is crucial for its function.

2. **Components of Tertiary Structure**:
- The tertiary structure is stabilized by various interactions, including hydrogen bonds, hydrophobic interactions, and Van der Waals forces. These interactions maintain the protein's 3D shape.

3. **Factors Affecting Tertiary Structure**:
- The stability of the tertiary structure can be disrupted by certain factors. These include:
- **Radiation**: High energy radiation can break the bonds that stabilize the tertiary structure.
- **Temperature**: High temperatures can lead to denaturation, where the protein unfolds and loses its functional shape.
- **pH Changes**: Drastic changes in pH can alter the charge and interactions of amino acids, affecting the stability of the tertiary structure.

4. **Identifying the Correct Answer**:
- Given the options provided in the question, all the mentioned factors (high energy radiation, high temperature, and drastic change in pH) can indeed destroy the tertiary structure of proteins. Therefore, the correct answer is:
- **All of these (Option D)**.

### Final Answer:
The tertiary structure of proteins can be destroyed by high energy radiation, high temperature, and drastic changes in pH. Thus, the answer is **Option D: All of these**.

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